SPANISH LAKE, Mo. — Grevy's zebra foal Roxie is the first-ever animal to be born at the Saint Louis Zoo's WildCare Park, which is currently under development in north St. Louis County.
Roxie weighed 95.8 pounds when she was born on April 16, according to the zoo. Her parents are 7-year-old Gemma and 11-year-old Presley, who were paired together at the Saint Louis Zoo in Forest Park as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Special Survival Plan for endangered Grevy's zebras.
“Gemma is a first-time mom and is doing everything right in caring for her newborn. Roxie follows her mom closely, is nursing well and has a lot of energy,” WildCare Park General Curator Martha Fischer said in a statement.
Gemma was in the middle of her 13-month pregnancy when she moved from the zoo to the WildCare Park in September, according to the zoo.
Roxie's father remains in the Red Rocks area at the zoo in Forest Park, as male zebras are not involved in rearing offspring.
WildCare Park is home to 12 critically endangered addax, three Grevy's zebras and a critically endangered Somali wild ass who all came from the zoo at Forest Park. They all reside in the Dana Brown Conservation Pasture, a large, natural space dedicated to breeding and conservation efforts.
Construction on the park began two years ago in Spanish Lake, according to a release from the zoo. The process has included building demolition, fence installation and grading around the property, the conversion of 260 acres of golf course turf into native grasses, the removal of invasive plants, the construction of barns and a utility building as well as the renovation of the headquarters building.
“This is both a joyful and historic moment for WildCare Park," WildCare Park Director Sabarras George said in a statement. "We are thrilled to reach this milestone on the path to building a world-class safari park and conservation center here in St. Louis County.”
The park will open to the public in 2027.
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